Kadokawa Corporation has launched a new global initiative aimed at supporting overseas manga creators and helping them debut in Japan.
The project, titled KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA), officially began on April 30, 2026, and is designed to provide opportunities, professional editorial feedback, and a chance at publication in Japan.
The initiative arrives as manga and anime continue to expand globally, with increasing numbers of creators outside Japan producing original works.
Despite this growth, many aspiring artists have struggled to access professional guidance or present their work directly to publishers in Japan. Kadokawa’s new program seeks to address this gap by offering structured support and direct engagement with its editorial teams.
KWMA revolves around two main initiatives: “Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI” and “OnSITE Portfolio Review,” and together with the ongoing Kadokawa World Manga Contest, the company said the initiative provides “integrated opportunities for creation, feedback, and challenge.”
The Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI platform, which launched simultaneously with the KWMA initiative, allows creators worldwide to submit their manga works at any time to Kadokawa. The platform is available in English and is open to individuals who can communicate in English or Japanese
The OnSITE Portfolio Review program, on the other hand, will bring editors directly to international locations to provide face-to-face feedback and guidance.
The first session of the OnSITE program is scheduled to take place at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles from July 2 to July 5, 2026. Reservations for the session are currently open on a first-come, first-served basis through the official website, with registration running until June 25 or until all slots are filled.
Additional OnSITE sessions are planned in Taiwan and other regions, with further details to be announced at a later date.
The company also highlighted the success of its previous international initiative, the Wordless World Manga Contest, which received 1,126 entries from 104 countries and regions during its first edition.
Building on that momentum, the newly expanded KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST now accepts both wordless entries and dialogue-based works in five languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, French, and Traditional Chinese.
Source: Press Release
